“We are going to have a mall and hotel at the two stations, but we are looking for investors. So we should have two very big stations in Lagos, one in Apapa and the other in Ebute Metta; then Abeokuta and Ibadan,”—AMAECHI
LAGOS: Minister of Transport Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has said the Federal Government is insisting on the completion of Lagos-Ibadan railway by December.
He said it has decided that the construction company in charge should move back to Lagos and begin work.
Amaechi spoke yesterday when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of his meeting with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos House, Alausa.
The company handling the project is China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
He said the Federal Government was working on two types of railway, namely “the narrow gauge, which is already on and the standard gauge. They are emptying into the Apapa seaport.”
The minister said Lagos had two mega stations, which were at Apapa and Ebute Metta, but both were too small.
“We are going to expand the stations.
“We are going to have a mall and hotel at the two stations, but we are looking for investors. So we should have two very big stations in Lagos, one in Apapa and the other in Ebute Metta; then Abeokuta and Ibadan,” he added.
Amaechi said the Federal Government on Wednesday awarded a contract on the Tin Can-Oworonshoki-Ojota road, adding that Dangote was doing one other part of it.
“What we are trying to do there is to get good roads to evacuate cargoes, but it will be faster with the rail. So while we are working hard to make sure that the rail is delivered by the end of this year, the Federal Government has also awarded a contract to deal with the road from Apapa and Tin Can to enable us evacuate cargoes freely. This is an addition to the rail,” he said.
The minister hailed Governor Ambode, who he said “has been very cooperative from the beginning till now.”
Ambode thanked the Federal Government for approving the reconstruction of Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi expressway up to the toll gate.
“It is in continuation of finding a solution to what has been happening in Apapa, especially in the past two weeks, which has seen Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo visiting Lagos twice in the last two weeks and promising remedies to the situation.”
